Biofuel And Water Cycle Dynamics: What Are The Related Challenges For Hydrological Processes Research?

摘要

The accurate analysis of environmental impacts of large-scale biofuel (Definition: Fuel with a minimum of 80% content by volume of materials derived from living organisms harvested within 10 years of its manufacture.) production is important for many reasons, but in particular it is essential to protect water resources and to assure ecological integrity as far as possible. Biofuels, or more generally bioenergy (including biodiesel, etc.), are promising renewable energy sources intended to satisfy the escalating global energy demand (e.g. Somerville, 2006) and to limit greenhouse gas emissions. The advantages of biofuels are manifold: (ⅰ) security of supply (renewable energy; biofuels can be produced locally in comparatively sustainable systems) (ⅱ) lower net greenhouse gas emissions (biofuels recycle carbon dioxide that was extracted from the atmosphere in producing biomass) (ⅲ) less pollution in respect to other emissions (less sulfur, carbon monoxide and particulates; biodegradable byproducts) (ⅳ) well suited for transport uses (high energy density and handling convenience) and (ⅴ) support for agriculture. Somerville (2006) discusses further substantial economic and strategic advantages, as for instance a larger independence of western countries with regard to fossil fuel originating from politically unstable countries. The expectations in this energy source are tremendous (e.g. Ragauskas et al., 2006); the combination of intensive agriculture, modern breeding and transgenic techniques should result in achievements greater than those of the Green Revolution in food crops, and in far less time (e.g. Koonin, 2006).